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21.06.1863 (more)

Fort Monroe has finally fallen. The Yankees had landed a full corps, but it was quickly destroyed. This was certainly also due to the siege engines, which kept the fort under constant fire.

Now some of our troops are free; perhaps we can even consider launching our own offensive?
In the Gulf of Mexico, the port, including the gunboat, was finally destroyed after the siege. Now blockade runners can once again unload urgently needed supplies unhindered.
The situation in Arizona is less favorable. General von Dorn reports increasing pressure on his lines.
When considering a counter-offensive, the President inquires when the new corps can be deployed. This will not happen until October, i.e., autumn. Deployment, equipping, and positioning. Let's not kid ourselves, it will be spring before they are fully operational.

The climax moment is coming. Great AAR, I really enjoy the narrative! I will write some of my comments at the end of this epic journal

The climax moment is coming. Great AAR, I really enjoy the narrative! I will write some of my comments at the end of this epic journal

Just wait until the movie comes out^^

05.07.1963

We were so close, so close, to the British entering the war on our side.

But the Union has obviously pulled another clever diplomatic maneuver out of its hat.
The British conviction has cooled, though not completely extinguished.
In Missouri, the Yankees have taken Marsfield.
In Tennessee, we were able to destroy a corps, albeit with heavy losses.

05.07.1863 (more)

Fighting has also broken out around Dover and is developing very much to our disadvantage.
In Virginia, we have launched a counter-offensive under the command of General Jackson.
On the East Coast, we have formed a naval force near Wilmington. Its purpose is to stop everything heading south, be it landing craft or new ships for a blockade.
We are not yet giving up the attempt to draw England into the war.

In Arizona, General van Dorn was able to at least somewhat alleviate the pressure from the North.

19.07.1863

Three blockade runners have broken through.

At Wilmington, Savannah, and once again at Mobile.

If this continues, Lincoln will soon have to resort to his bag of tricks again.

Jefferson Davis instructed us to work out how we could further impress, influence, bribe, or even force the British to join the war on our side.

And indeed, a plan has been developed.

Our General Staff and I are convinced that if we succeed in bringing the war into Union territory, it would make an enormous impression on the Europeans. It would lead them to accept us as an independent nation, perhaps even to support us.

At the same time, it would further weaken the Union's obviously diminished fighting spirit.

There is a real sense and conviction that the enemy is more than just weakened; their war weariness is palpable everywhere. At the same time, this further strengthens our resolve.

The offensive is to take place this year, even without the additional corps.

General Lee marks out the designated area. The goal is to establish a permanent foothold of at least five units within this area. This should demonstrate our strength to the Europeans.
In Missouri, we were able to stabilize the situation somewhat, even though a few Native Americans have positioned themselves in a very exposed position. I have no idea which tribe they are; to me, these savages all look the same.
In Tennessee, we must maintain a defensive posture. Resources and reinforcements will initially be allocated to the offensive into Maryland and/or Pennsylvania.
New Union gunboats have been sighted and reported. Course?

South? That would mean a major naval battle; we are ready.
In Arizona, the pressure on General Dorn is not easing; unfortunately, he and his units are at the very bottom of the priority list.

02.08.1863

The constant reports of success from the blockade runners are really influencing the British. Whatever Lincoln did to influence the British, the effect is clearly waning.
In Missouri, instead of retreating, the Native Americans launched an attack on General Gilbert's headquarters. This had devastating consequences for them, and counterattacks have further weakened them.

The other tribes are practically trying to "fight their way out."
In Tennessee, the situation is easing. We were even able to recapture Dover. Are the Yankees trying to lure us into an offensive here? General Lee is giving orders to remain defensive. He's right; he knows we don't have the capacity for two major offensives.

02.08.1863 (more)

Preparations for an offensive in Virginia are underway.

We intend to advance from the Shannondoah Valley. The Union has significantly reduced its own efforts there. Our scouts can only detect troops averaging brigade strength.
It seems to be working; their lines are suffering heavy losses.
There's a success report from Arizona.

Native Americans fighting on the Union side could be annihilated almost instantly and completely.

16.08.1863

The Native Americans in Missouri were annihilated by the Indians.

How can anyone treat Indigenous peoples like that? But they're always playing the moralizer, saying, "Slavery is so evil."

Our nation of justice will soon be a refuge for all freedom-loving patriots; that will be truly wonderful.

The British won't be fooled much longer, and our offensive hasn't even really begun.
The Union has regrouped in Tennessee. The target is obviously Trenton.
Our offensive in Virginia is progressing well; Winchester has been recaptured.

30.08.1863

Another blockade runner has broken through near Savannah.

In Missouri, a group of Native American warriors was trapped.

With the combined forces of the Native Americans and General Dorn's troops, the encirclement was broken.
In Tennessee, a counter-offensive took place near Trenton under General Johnston.

No units were likely destroyed, as the enemy was able to withdraw in time.
In Virginia, Generals Jackson, Beauregard, and Polk know that the nation, perhaps even the entire world, is watching them, and their actions will be recorded in history one way or another.

They are trying to act as exemplarily as possible. First, they had the Union lines scouted by cavalry.
Then, the objectives around Harpers Ferry were determined, and the corresponding orders for the attack were issued. Successfully, Harpers Ferry was captured, and even a high-ranking enemy general was taken prisoner.
In Arizona, our lines are thinning, but they are still holding.

13.09.1863

In Missouri, the situation has calmed down somewhat. This is likely due to both sides needing to recoup their losses.

The same is true in Tennessee.

In Virginia, there is only one direction for us: forward. Forward, and let's show the world what our nation is capable of.
In Arizona, the situation has also calmed down somewhat. Nevertheless, we have decided to send a division, specially assembled in Texas, on the long journey to finally reinforce General Dorn's ranks.

While President Davies is being shown the latest reports, units, and casualty areas, a messenger rushes in.
He announces, completely out of breath, what we have all been waiting for and hoping for:
The British intend to open and operate an embassy in Richmond. They recognize us as a nation.

A huge cheer erupts in the room, and everyone congratulates each other.

27.09.1863

England has joined the war on our side.
We have been assured that naval forces currently stationed in Canada, Bermuda, and Jamaica will be deployed shortly.
Land forces, however, will take time to deploy, as the troops available are primarily defensive in nature.

27.09.1863 (more)
We have also been asked to make two decisions.

First, whether the British troops to be raised should be stationed in Canada or Jamaica.
We will inform you that we will choose Canada.

The idea of ​​drawing the Union into a two-front war seems the most sensible to us.

The British Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, proposes a risky operation to capture Washington.
We reject this.

We remain of the opinion that we should launch fewer offensive actions, but with the highest possible effectiveness.

Perhaps we will initiate another operation, as significantly more funds are now available due to the cotton sales.
A period of troop refitting has begun on the battlefields. Apparently on both sides. Perhaps the Yankees are also preparing for a storm from northern Canada.

19.10.1863

The Yankees are invading Canada. From Detroit, they're advancing towards Windsor and have reached the port city of Amherstburg.
We're equipping our units in Missouri and Tennessee with newly developed weapons and equipment.

Our offensive in Virginia is also losing momentum as supplies with the improved equipment gradually arrive.

Reinforcements can now be deployed near Richmond.
Furthermore, British troops are now in position in southern Canada. We're planning a landing operation near Cleveland. Preparations are underway.
Meanwhile, we're hearing from all sorts of sources that Yankee morale is on the verge of collapse.

10.11.1863

So much for our landing operations.

We plan, the Union executes.

They are at Port Stanley.

This is Jazon's handiwork, unmistakably.

The British are on their way, but the operation at Cleveland will still go ahead.
Another Union landing craft was sunk off the Atlantic coast of Canada.

But reports are coming in that the Union is offering peace.
We did it, VICTORY!
Finally, the individual front sections:

Thank you so much, Jazon, for this game.

Well, at least for me, it's given me a few insights:

- The Blues (actually) have the advantage in MPP.

- The Greys have the advantage in their commanders and fighting spirit.

- Therefore, it seems absolutely vital for the Blues to disrupt the southern convoy routes by any means necessary. Blockades, landings, or simply by plundering. If they fail, the south can always replenish its losses and play for time.

- The Blues are truly playing against the clock, against the constantly decreasing fighting spirit. That's why partial successes, like capturing fighting spirit cities, are so important. This buys them back small windows of opportunity.

Hi,
thank you Petisch for the game as well. It was fun although I was beaten. I really enjoyed the narrative for you AAR, and vivid descriptions of what was happening in Richmond, between generals and President Davis.
To make it clear and compacted, for those who haven't yet played multiplayer game, I will write in points:
1. Read thorughly the manual and strategic guide. I was reckless, and only had a glance for some of the info, so no wonder I was making many mistakes in the game. Especially check the Fighting Spirit notes and events, because as Petisch pointed out, for Union it is game against the clock. You have handicaped -700 FS per TURN, which I wasn't aware of.
2. Now a bit of polemic, or rather interpretation from what Petiscg wrote: Whether the Blue has MPP advantage, it is not huge, and especially at the beginning of the game, the superiority of Confederate Generals makes all Blue attacks more costly, so yeah, you have more MPP's but in most of the cases your attacks will costs you way more MPP's in losses than the Greys.
3. Agree with Petisch -> the key for gaining strategic upperhand does not lay in the cornfields of Tennessee or hills of Virigina. It's on the sea. Keeping at least few ports open by the Confederacy will add so much MPP's and political influence, that It surpasses even taking Major city in the North. Cost-effect is massive.
4. So In a way, Blue is harder for players who like more defensive approach. You just can't because when your NM will reach below 50%, even if you have upper tech in inf Equipment it doesn't mean much while fighting digged in confederate unit with morale 105%. You will not go through, unless you will lose lots of soldiers, then you lose additional MPP's, and it is just a spiral that drags you down and down.
5. Use the river landings in Missisipi. I did not make a single landing and that was my huge mistake.

Congrats for Petisch for his victory and bold decision to build strong fleet on early stage which was kinda a "gambling move". Also campaign in Arizona was very good, I brought additional division there, but I just couldn't break through and my FS was plummeting. And biggest regret - that when finally my rebuilded big Northern fleet appeared, I had 6 Ironclads, 3 monitors, Frigates and even ship of line, when UK joined I wanted to increrase my FS by big naval battle, but because I invaded Canada too early, i lost additional 10k morale and that was it. Pity. We could do some AWI reenacting, US NAVY vs Royal NAVY.
Congrats for Petisch for his victory and great AAR!